The groups for the
2026 Esports World Cup have officially been revealed. Twelve teams from around the world will battle it out in Paris from July 15 to 19 to determine who will succeed Gen.G, the defending champions after winning last year's edition.
The tournament will kick off with the group stage, and the draw has already produced several highly anticipated matchups. The groups are as follows:
The group stage will kick off on July 15 using a GSL format. Elimination matches will be played as BO3s, while all other matches will be BO1s. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, a single-elimination bracket featuring BO3 matches, with the Grand Final played as a BO5. The tournament winner will earn a direct qualification spot for next year's Esports World Cup, as well as a substantial share of the prize pool.
The 16 teams will compete for a total prize pool of $2 million, matching the prize money on offer at the
Mid-Season Invitational, which will take place just a few days earlier in South Korea, Daejeon.
This year's edition also features four more teams than last year's tournament, highlighting the Esports World Cup's continued growth and increasing legitimacy. The event is attracting more top organizations while also gaining popularity among fans around the world.
